My Eyes Have Seen The Glory

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The seat coverings at Wembley summed it up.

Arsenal covered their 13 sections with a nod to each of the 13 FA Cup wins we have had.

Manchester City had something about a Blue Moon – is this the newest book in the Twilight Saga?

With 13 league titles, 13 FA Cups, 2 League Cups and 2 European trophies, The Arsenal are the 3rd most successful side in English football history. We are serial winners.

Winning mentality runs through the club, and that is highlighted over the last decade.

In the last 10 seasons,there has been little between Arsenal and Tottenham when it comes to the league.

Arsenal have finished higher 5 times out of the 9 completed seasons. Spurs 4 times (with the chance to make it 5-all this season).

During that period, Arsenal’s average league position has been 4th. Tottenham also 4th (or 4.1 to be exact).

Arsenal have finished top 4 six out of nine seasons. Tottenham 5 times

Both sides have finished 2nd.

There really is not much to split the two sides when it comes to a decade of league performances.

This is a period when Spurs have been excellent. A generational team. Their been side since the 60s. Whilst Arsenal have been in decline. A club in crisis.

What splits the teams, and highlights the difference between Arsenal’s winning and Tottenham’s losing mentality is trophies.

In the last decade, Arsenal have won 3 FA Cups. Tottenham trophyless.

You have to go back to 1991 to capture the period for Tottenham’s last 3 trophies (1 FA Cup, 2 League Cups); and back to 1981 for their last 3 FA Cup wins.

The 2020 FA Cup will be Arsenal’s 7th final in the past decade. Tottenham have played in just 2.

Scrolling through history, it is once again back to 1991 to capture Tottenham’s last 7 finals.

Mikel Arteta has been at the club for 7 months and already taken Arsenal to an FA Cup Final.

Tottenham’s last final was 1991. Since that victory under Terry Venables, Tottenham have got through 21 different managers.

Arsenal have lost few finals in recent years – last seasons Europa League defeat to Chelsea and a thrashing by Manchester City in the League Cup. Also that disappointing defeat to Birmingham in the League Cup which now feels a life time away.

Even with these defeats, at least we were there, in the final, competing for trophies.

This will be Arsenal fans 5th trip to Wembley for a final in 7 years, and 7th final in 10 years. Each one of those finals, win or lose, creates everlasting memories.

At times over the last decade, it has been tough to follow The Arsenal up and down the country. But that is because of the success that went before during the 90s and 00s.

But even in our worst periods, we make finals, we win trophies.

And on August 1st we have a chance of a 14th FA Cup. A 5th trophy in 10 years. Another glory day.

My eyes have seen the glory.

Keenos

Match Report: Arsenal 2 – 0 Man City

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Arsenal (1) 2 Manchester City (0) 0

FA Cup Semi-Final

Wembley Stadium, Wembley, London HA9 0WS

Saturday 18th July, 2020. Kick-off time: 7.45pm

(4-2-3-1) Emiliano MartΓ­nez; Shkodran Mustafi, David Luiz, Kieran Tierney, Hector Bellerin; Dani Ceballos, Granit Xhaka; Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Nicolas PΓ©pΓ©, Alexandre Lacazette; Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Substitutes: Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Lucas Torreira, Rob Holding, Reiss Nelson, Joe Willock, Sead KolaΕ‘inac, Matt Macey, Matt Smith, Bukayo Saka.

Scorers: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (19 mins, 71 mins)

Arsenal Possession Percentage: 29%

Referee: Jonathan Moss

Attendance: A maximum of 300 attendees due to UK government coronavirus restructions

Forget everything else that has gone on before. Forget the form guide. Forget the injury doubts and the media speculation as well. This happens to be our thirtieth FA Cup semi-final, and as we know from experience (sometimes bitter) as Arsenal supporters, pretty much anything is possible here at Wembley Stadium tonight. All we can hope for is that the chaps make a first-class account of themselves, play well, and do enough to take us back to this stadium in a few weeks for the final itself. Let’s go!

Manchester City got the better of the early exchanges, and our defence were constantly changing shape from three to four to (and even five) at the back to accommodate the imminent danger as it arose. Under pressure, Shkodran Mustafi dithered and lost the ball in the six-yard box and we were extremely lucky not to be a goal down after just eight minutes. Alexandre Lacazette did manage to get the ball in the City net after twelve minutes, but unfortunately the whistle had already hone for offside; just three minutes later, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ran onto a ball from David Luiz, and was unlucky not to score when Ederson saved the shot with his feet. After eighteen minutes, a Nicolas PΓ©pΓ© cross from the right found Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who scored casually with a right foot shot. The match started to settle down now, and after the drinks break, Manchester City put us under pressure again and our defenders managed the clear their lines time and time again. Nicolas PΓ©pΓ© and Alexandre Lacazette were playing extremely well, and their enthusiasm and skill were inspiring the rest of the team in this half. Our confidence was there for everyone to see with accurate passing and clever off the ball running, and Shkodran Mustafi was unlucky not to score when his powerful header was tipped over the bar by Ederson five minutes before the break. In the dying minutes of the half, Ainsley Maitland-Niles really should have scored when faced with a certain goal, but Ederson simply caught the ball, which was a chance missed rather than one saved on City’s part.

Funnily enough, the second half started the same as the first with City applying pressure on our goal; Raheem Sterling came close to equalising three minutes after the restart, and as in the first half, our defenders were immense in keeping City away from our goal. Emiliano MartΓ­nez made a world-class save from Riyad Mahrez to keep us in the match, and time and time again our defenders managed to keep the City strikers away from our goal magnificently. On the hour, a Kevin de Bruyne free kick went inches wide; but our goalkeeper had it covered anyway, and it looked far more dangerous than it was. Amazingly, we actually had the better of a VAR decision when Raheem Sterling claimed a penalty after a clean tackle by Shkodran Mustafi, and still the defence held despite intolerable pressure from the City strikers. After the customary drinks break, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ran on from a ball from Kieran Tierney, ran forty yards and coolly slotted the ball through Ederson’s legs to grab our second of the night. Joe Willock replaced Nicolas PΓ©pΓ© two minutes after the second goal, and although City threw the kitchen sink at us, still our defence held firm. Lucas Torreira replaced Alexandre Lacazette with twelve minutes of the match remaining, and despite more wild shooting from the City players, our line held. Shkodran Mustafi went down with an injury for which he went off the field for treatment, and thus he was substituted by Sead KolaΕ‘inac, and Rob Holding replaced Ainsley Maitland-Niles with two minutes of the match remaining. Because of the Shkodran Mustafi injury, seven minutes’ injury time had to be played, and despite some tired legs, both the defence and the result stood.

This was a proud result for everyone associated with our club; a truly, truly magnificent performance by our heroic team of players, and with twenty-nine percent possession as well! Our defence was composed, concentrated, strong and united, and cometh the hour, cometh the man. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was ice cool in his execution of the goals, and it has to be said that every man knew their part tonight, and were well drilled, and in doing so thoroughly earned the right to be back at Wembley to play either Chelsea or Manchester United on 1st August. Can’t wait! Remember everyone, keep the faith, get behind the team and the manager, as this season is going to be crucial for our future success in all competitions. Stick with the winners. Our next match: Aston Villa at Villa Park, Trinity Road, Aston, Birmingham B6 6HE on Tuesday, 21st July at 7.45pm(Premier League). Victoria Concordia Crescit.

Steve

Too Dearly Loved To Be Forgotten: Arsenal v Racing Club de Paris 1930-1962 by Steve Ingless (Rangemore Publications, ISBN 978-1-5272-0135-4) is now available on Amazon.

The famous Arsenal are going to Wemberley – but we are not going

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Wemberley, Wemberley, we’re the famous Arsenal and we’re going Wemberley.

Except we are not really.

The tram might be playing there, but there will be no fans. And without fans football is nothing.

Instead I will be in my garden, few lads round, BBQ & beers watching the game the tele.

Right now I would probably be heading to a cafe to eat my only meal of the day. RODI’s near Blackhorse Road station tends to be the pre-Wembley stop. Full tank.

Although I’ve just seen it is now under new ownership and has gone from old school greasy spoon to new, trendy cafe that serves croissants and oat porridge instead of bacon, sausage, egg and beans.

Then it would be on to the White Swan on Highbury corner. Good old Wetherspoons. Cheap booze. Quick service. Can’t beat it.

London Overground to West Hampstead. Piss down Billy Fury Way. Off licence for a can before jumping on the Jubilee line to Wembley.

Watch Arsenal win then off to the Blue Check for some post games beers, before getting back down to Highbury for a few more in the Famous Cock.

12 hours of drinking with some of the best people on earth. And today we are missing it.

Will require a big effort tonight to win the game. But we have done it before.

In 2017 we beat Manchester City in the semi-final 2-1.

City lead following a goal from Sergio Aguero, before Nacho Monreal got the equaliser. Alexis Sanchez won the game in extra-time.

We then beat Chelsea in the final.

Wherever you watch it tonight, however with, enjoy yourself. Don’t be gripped by the fear of Covid19 or defeat.

Drink drink together in the name of the AFC.

What did she wear?

Keenos